“His name?”

“Eberhard Amelungen.”

“What is he?”

“A wholesale merchant.  My cargo is intended for him.”

“And how is he connected with Penurot?”

“I don’t know.  Penurot is an agent who does all kinds of business.”

“Oh! and what does the owner, Mynheer van Spranekhuizen, say to your having anything to do with such things as the conveyance of these loaves?”

“Mynheer van Spranekhuizen and Mynheer Amelungen are near relations.”

“In other words, these two gentlemen have agreed to send the Bressay from the Shetlands to Dover, and from Dover to Antwerp.”

“I know nothing about that, Herr major.  I have told you everything I know.  No vessel can go further up the Schelde than Ternenzen, and I can unload at Breskens just as well as at Ternenzen and send the goods by rail to Antwerp.”

“Now, Brandelaar, go upstairs again and send M. Penurot down to me.”

With heavy tread the skipper mounted the narrow ladder, and almost at once Penurot entered.  Heideck, with a wave of his hand, invited him to sit down opposite and began to speak.

“From what I have seen of Brandelaar I am convinced that he is an arrant rascal.  It was very imprudent on your part to have anything to do with a man like that.  If you are brought before a court-martial, you have him to thank for it.”

“For God’s sake, Herr major—­my life isn’t in danger?  I implore you, have pity on me!”

“It will matter little whether personally I have pity on you.  You will go with me to the Gefion and be brought before a court-martial at Flushing.  The fact that you have been Brandelaar’s accomplice cannot be got rid of.  He has just now declared definitely that the two loaves were intended for you.”

“For me?  That is a vile lie.  I have never received a penny from the English.”

“Well—­but, without special reasons, a man doesn’t amuse himself by paying a visit to a herring-smack at night.  The cargo could have been delivered to Herr Eberhard Amelungen without your inspection.”

“Eberhard Amelungen?”

“Don’t pretend to be so ignorant.  Brandelaar has already confessed so much, that you can easily admit the rest.  Amelungen and Van Spranekhuizen are in a conspiracy to carry on a regular system of espionage in the interests of England.  You are used as an agent, and Maaning Brandelaar is trying to get out of it by sacrificing you.”

“So it seems, really.  But I am quite innocent, Herr major.  I know nothing of all that.  The last time Brandelaar left the Schelde, he came to see me here in Breskens and told me that he would soon be back again and that it would be a good business for me.”

“When did that happen?”

“Three weeks ago.  I had no reason to distrust Brandelaar, since he had often supplied goods for Amelungen.”

“But why did you come on board to-day?”